Watch your back..
“Yes, it just happened! She left my office not too long ago. I was stunned.” There was silence before he continued, “But you seriously need to investigate this further. We can’t tell what it’s really about. She was literally emitting light for two days, and now it just stops? Please, find out more about this. I expect your presence at the mansion this evening, no excuses.” He hung up, leaving me wondering who he had been talking to.
I went upstairs to my bedroom, heading straight to the mirror. After two days of not being able to see my reflection, I could finally look at myself without the blinding glow. I smiled warmly, sat down, and began brushing my hair, appreciating the simple pleasure of seeing my reflection.
These little things, I realized, were privileges I hadn’t fully appreciated. After such a challenging two-day period, I wanted to savor every moment. I looked at my hands and smiled. The day was still young, so I decided to conserve my energy. Sitting quietly, I began to hum, which slowly turned into a whisper and then a full song. I sang one of the many melodies my mom used to sing around the house when I was younger, letting the song carry me away.
A knock at the door interrupted my singing. I thought someone was there to complain about the noise. I got up, opened the door slowly, and was shocked to see Veronica standing there.
“You?” I exclaimed, unable to hide my surprise.
Veronica’s appearance was unexpected, especially given the tense atmosphere between us lately. She had always been an enigmatic presence, with her sharp features and penetrating gaze often making her seem aloof. But today, something was different. Her usually composed face showed traces of something more-perhaps curiosity, or even concern?
“Yes, me,” Veronica replied with a slight smirk, her tone revealing a hint of amusement. She looked me over, as if assessing my state, and then stepped closer, her eyes locking onto mine. There was an intensity there, one that I had rarely seen from her.
“What do you want?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady. The last thing I wanted was to show any sign of weakness.
Veronica leaned casually against the doorframe, her posture relaxed but her eyes still sharp. “I heard you stopped glowing,” she began, her voice low and even. “I wanted to see it for myself.”
I couldn’t help but feel defensive, crossing my arms as if to shield myself from her scrutiny. “Yes, it’s stopped. Why do you care?”
Her smirk widened, and she straightened up, taking a step closer to me. “Oh, don’t get me wrong. It’s not about caring, really. I’m just… intrigued. Two days of glowing like a beacon, and then nothing? It’s curious, don’t you think?”
I nodded slowly, unsure of where this conversation was heading. Veronica had always been a bit of a mystery, keeping to herself while maintaining a subtle but palpable influence over those around her. Her involvement in the recent events had been minimal, which made her sudden interest all the more surprising.
“Look, if you’re here to gloat or something, can we just skip it? I’m not in the mood,” I said, trying to keep my tone neutral.
Veronica laughed softly, a sound that was surprisingly warm given her usual demeanor. “Gloat? No, not at all. If anything, I find this… fascinating. I’m sure you’ve noticed that not many things change around here, and something like this-” she gestured to me, “-is worth paying attention to.”
I studied her face, searching for any hidden motive. There was something in her eyes that I couldn’t quite place-something beyond mere curiosity. I honestly didn’t like the sight of it. I actually found it very cunning! I quickly dismissed the thought. Veronica and I had never been particularly close, and I couldn’t understand what this sudden interaction was really supposed to be
“Well, I’m glad you find me worth paying attention to, but as you can see, I am perfectly fine and the glowing has stopped. You may leave now, thank you,” I said, leading Veronica towards the door.
“Hey, don’t you dare touch me!” she yelled angrily, and honestly, I wasn’t even surprised by the outburst. Being nice wasn’t something Veronica could do in this life or the next; she was as spoiled and nasty as ever, truly unpleasant to be around.
“Good, so now that you’ve brought back your true nasty self, just go straight to the point-why are you here?”
“Wow, I actually thought you would embrace this new and improved me, but I guess I was just wasting my time trying to be better.”
“Oh please, you and I both know that you can never change.”
“You know what? You’re right, I can never change and I will never change for any reason whatsoever. Now listen, and listen very well: whatever it is that you think you have going on, just know that it isn’t over yet. I never thought in my wildest imagination that you would raise your hand to me, never ever. However, believe me when I say that I am not going to let you go scot-free for what you did the other day. You better watch your back from now on because I am coming for you.”
“Oh really? Is that supposed to be a threat?”
“I honestly don’t care how you take it, whether you feel it’s a warning, a threat, or an insight. That is your problem. All I know is that your days in this house are numbered, and the more you watch your back, the better things will be for your pathetic self,” she said, eyeing me from head to toe before making her way out. I watched her as she strutted towards the door, and the more I kept seeing her around, the angrier my wolf grew.
“Oh, would you just get out of here already?” I said angrily, rushing to open the door and pushing her out. She tripped a bit from the push, but before she could even react, I instantly slammed the door in her face. The loud thump of the strong wooden door followed, and I rolled my eyes in frustration. Although I had prepared myself for a comeback from Veronica, it bothered me how openly and fearlessly she confronted me. Normally, one wouldn’t want to give an enemy the chance to prepare for an attack. Veronica, however, seemed so callous, and my wolf couldn’t help but sense the pent-up anger and lurking danger that came with her presence. Something unusually devious was going on with her, and if I didn’t stay cautious and alert, she would definitely find ways to successfully bring about my downfall.
I sat down on the floor, tears suddenly streaming from my eyes. The journey was obviously still very far, but I was already starting to give up. I needed peace, but all I kept encountering were one problem after another. I had never experienced true happiness, and it hurt so much to think about that.
I went about doing a few chores to get my mind off everything, and the day honestly went by pretty fast. I looked at the ornate grandfather clock in the hallway and saw that it was already 4 p. m. Deciding to go for a stroll around the mansion grounds, I took a deep breath and stepped outside. The gardens surrounding the mansion were meticulously maintained, with manicured lawns and an array of colorful flowers in full bloom. The air was fragrant with the scent of roses and jasmine, creating a tranquil atmosphere that was at odds with the turmoil in my heart.
As I walked, I noticed the Royal Seer being driven toward the mansion. His arrival was unexpected, and I couldn’t help but wonder what he could possibly be doing here again. “What? What could he possibly be going to do in the mansion again? I am really sure the discussion he and Lucas will be having would be about me,” I said to myself, watching him approach the mansion’s gates. The guards opened the gates without hesitation, as if they had been expecting him. As soon as he got inside, I turned my back to prevent him from seeing that I was watching. I waited until he was well inside the house before running to catch up with him, quietly following from a distance as he headed straight for Lucas’s study room.
The mansion’s interior was grand and imposing, with marble floors, high ceilings adorned with intricate chandeliers, and walls lined with portraits of past generations. The study room, where the Seer and Lucas would meet, was a stately space filled with shelves of old books, a massive oak desk, and plush armchairs. Heavy curtains hung by the windows, adding an air of secrecy and importance to the room.
I followed quietly, waiting for the Seer to enter the study and shut the door before moving closer to avoid being caught. Inside, Lucas and the Seer exchanged pleasantries before Lucas offered him a seat.
“I’m sure you’re wondering why I requested you to come over, even though you weren’t quite pleased with it,” Lucas began.
“Yes, I am still not pleased about it, but you are my king, and I cannot dishonor you by disobeying your order,” the Seer replied.
“Thank you for that, but that’s the least of my concerns. So I’ll just get straight to the point. Why did you leave the other day when you knew there was something you weren’t telling me?” Lucas questioned, his tone demanding answers. I pressed my ear to the door, eager to catch every word. This was a mystery I wanted to solve as well. The Seer’s abrupt departure had raised suspicions, and I was just as curious as Lucas to uncover the truth.
There was a brief silence, and for some reason, my wolf urged me to hide. At first, I was confused and hesitant, but the more time passed, the more insistent the feeling became. Reluctantly, I moved to a concealed spot just as the study room door opened. The Seer peeked his head out, looking around cautiously. Holding my breath, I stayed hidden, grateful for my wolf’s intuition. The Seer seemed satisfied that no one was around and returned to the room, closing the door behind him.
“What did you just do?” I heard Lucas ask, his voice laced with suspicion.
“Your highness, it seems you still forget this is a very big mansion filled with lots of people. The walls have ears, and we can never tell who might be listening in on our conversation, so I just had to check to make sure no one hears what I’m about to tell you,” the Seer explained.
“Oh, no problem then,” Lucas responded. I felt no guilt for eavesdropping, determined to hear the details they were about to discuss.
“Alright then, here’s what I found out,” the Seer began.
The Seer’s voice lowered, making it difficult for me to catch every word, but I stayed as close to the door as possible without being detected. The study room, adorned with rich, dark wood paneling and a large, ornate fireplace, was dimly lit by the soft glow of the chandelier. The atmosphere inside was heavy with the scent of old leather and parchment, adding to the gravity of the conversation taking place.
“The energy disturbance you experienced was not just a random occurrence,” the Seer continued. “It was triggered by a powerful force, possibly ancient magic. The fact that it centered around her”-he hesitated, likely pointing in my direction-“suggests that she may possess untapped abilities or has a significant role in something much larger.”
Lucas leaned back in his chair and the soft creak of the leather under his weight was the only sound that filled the room for a moment. “Are you saying that she could be a threat, or is she in danger?” he asked, his tone a mix of concern and curiosity.
The Seer sighed, a sound that seemed to carry the weight of centuries of knowledge and burdens. “It’s difficult to say without further investigation. But I can tell you this: the light that emanated from her was not ordinary. It was pure, untainted by dark influences. This suggests that she is either protected by a powerful force or is a vessel for it.”